By Farai D Hove | The ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa has ignored vaccine donations from former colonial power, UK and moved to thank only China for vaccines numbering a tiny fraction of the British ones.
While UK is vaccinating 3 million Zimbabweans for free, China is only doing 200.000, and yet Mnangagwa has remained mum on the British donations.
Last week, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said China’s donations are set to a paltry 200 000.
She also said Zimbabwe has purchased 600 000 jabs from China.
Meanwhile, in his message to China, Mnangagwa thanked the Asian country for the Covid 19 vaccine donation saying:
“Our dear friends of China, these vaccines are certainly providing a new light of positivity to the people of Zimbabwe in these tough times — a light at the end of a dark tunnel.
“We are most grateful for this life-saving gesture.
“From our people to yours — thank you to my dear brother President Xi Jinping — and thank you to all the people of China.”.
He further added saying China had been a reliable all weather friend to Zimbabwe in times of need.
Meanwhile, State House announced saying
“The vaccines will arrive tomorrow at 3am and a formal presentation to the His Excellency at the State House will then follow. While we are not ignoring the concern around Covid-19, our major focus will obviously be on how we are a step higher in terms of rolling out the vaccine programme,” presidential spokesman Mr George Charamba said.
“Readers should be alive to fact that while the vaccine will lessen the strength of the virus, it does not render one immune, we still need to up our game in terms of masking up, washing hands and keeping social distancing
“You will see the tempo changing even in terms of public communication, we will now be focusing on the vaccine roll-out. We also need to address the issue of roll-out in respect of teachers as that has a bearing on schoolchildren and the calendar.
“It is an issue that we need to debate and then get guidance from experts as a matter of urgency as we have thousands upon thousands who are just at home, those who are fortunate are doing online learning.”